LONGFORD trainer John Blacker will aim his in-form staying mare Settler’s Joy at the $30,000 Autumn Open Handicap over 2100 metres in Hobart next month following her game win in a BM62 (2100m) at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart last Sunday.
Settler’s Joy (Kyle Maskiell) was coming off a win over 2400m when she lined up in Last Sunday’s event and despite going up significantly in weight from her previous outing she still managed to stave off determined challenges in the home straight to score narrowly from Staples Gee Gee and the favourite Alsa Doll.
It was muddling-run race and it was the initiative shown by 15-year-old apprentice Maskiell that probably won the race.
“I was very pleased with the result because the mare was coming back in distance and she went up in weight but to her credit she toughed it out in the home straight and ended up winning well,” Blacker said.
“When the tempo slowed dramatically midrace Kyle used his initiative to take the mare to the front and he was then able to dictate the pace and it was a big contributing factor in the win.”
“The mare is going extra well so we’ll push on to an open handicap over the same distance in a fortnight and if she is still going well then we might have a crack at the St Leger (2400m),” he said.
The $40,000 St Leger will be run over 2400 metres at The TOTE Racing Centre n Launceston on May 24.
The writer of this article, Peter Staples, has a share in Settler’s Joy.